Water saving water closet



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United States Patent Office 3,487,476 Patented Jan. 6, 1970 3,487,476 WATER SAVING WATER CLOSET Walter W. Stiern, 2901 Skyline Blvd., Bakersfield, Calif. 93305, and John Reid, 2704 Eric Court, Bakersfield, Calif. 93306 Filed July 13, 1967, Ser. No. 653,168

Int. Cl. E03d 1/22 U.S. Cl. 4-40 5 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention relates to a water closet in which walls are provided to divide the interior of the water closet into first and second compartments'and an outlet chamber. First and second valve means for regulating the ow of water from the first and second compartments respectively into the outlet chamber are provided in the outlet chamber walls. Valve actuating means are provided for each of the first and second valve means so that the second valve actuating means opens the second valve means independently of the first valve means, and the first valve actuating means opens both the first and second valve means simultaneously. Means are provided for supplying water to the first compartment responsive to the water level in the second compartment. The two compartments communicate with one another at about the normally full water level of the closet so that as the first compartment becomes full water ows into the second compartment until it also becomes full.

In many geographic areas there is a critical shortage of fresh water. A considerable amount of water can be saved through the use of the present invention, whereby all or merely a portion of the water in the closet may be selectively admitted to the closet bowl.

The present invention s readily adaptable to existing water closets. No special modifications of the Water closet are necessary to accommodate the apparatus of this invention except for the removal of the conventional operating mechanism from the interior of the water closet.

Referring particularly to the drawings, there is illustrated:

FIGURE l is a cross-sectional front elevation of a water closet divided into two compartments according to this invention;

FIGURE 2 is a plan View taken along line 2-2 in FIGURE l;

FIGURE 3 is a front elevation of a water closet of this invention with one compartment in the process of being emptied;

FIGURE 4 is a cross-sectional plan view of the actuating mechanism taken along line 4-4 in FIGURE 3; and

FIGURE 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 5 5 in FIGURE 4.

Referring particularly to the drawings, there is illustrated a water closet as indicated generally at containing a first compartment 12 and a second compartment 14. An outlet chamber 16 surrounds and isolates outlet 18 from first compartment 12 and second compartment 14. First compartment 12 and second compartment 14 are in communication with one another at about the normally full water level 20 of water closet 10. As first compartment 12 fills to normally full water level 20 it overflows into second compartment `14, thus filling the second compartment. The fiow of water from first compartment 12 into outlet chamber 16 is regulated by first valve 22 and first valve actuating mechanism 24. The fiow of water from second compartment 14 into outlet chamber 16 isI regulated by second valve 26 which is actuated by second valve actuating mechanism 28. As will be described more fully hereafter, second valve actuating mechanism 28 actuates only second valve 26, whereas first valve actuating mechanism 24 actuates both first valve 22 and second valve 26 simultaneously. A water level sensing device 30 is responsive to the Water level in second chamber 14. Water supply device 32 provides water to first compartment 12 responsive to the indications of water level sensing device 30 in second compartment 14.

The interior of water closet 10 is divided into first and second compartments 12 and 14, respectively, by partition 34. Partition 34 includes lateral wall 36 which extends downwardly from normally full water level 20 and across the width from front to back of water closet 10 to the intersection of first wall 38 and second wall 40. First wall 38 separates first compartment 12 from outlet chamber 16 and forms one wall of outlet chamber 16. Second wall 40 separates second compartment 14 from outlet chamber 16 and forms a second wall of outlet chamber 16. First valve 22, as illustrated particularly in FIGURES l and 3, is a flap valve which is pivoted at the fbase of lateral wall 36 and is attached to first valve float 44. First valve float 44 serves to maintain first valve 22 in the opened configuration so long as the water level in first compartment 12 is of such a level as to support first valve fioat 44. First chain 46 is attached to first valve 22 and first arm 48 so as to open first valve 22 upon movement of first arm 48. With particular reference to FIGURES 2, 4, and 5 first arm 48 is attached to sleeve 50 which is rotatably mounted in bushing 52. Bushing 52 seals the exterior closet wall 54 of water coset 10. Sleeve 50 is attached outside of water closet 10 to first actuating lever 56. Second valve float 60 is attached to second valve 26 and serves the same function `as first valve float 44. Second chain 62 extends from second valve 26 to second arm 64 and serves the same function as first chain 46. Second arm 64 is attached to shaft 66 which is journalled in sleeve 50. The end of shaft 66 which is disposed outside of water closet 10 is affixed to second actuating lever 68. With particular reference to FIGURES 4 and 5, shaft key 70 and sleeve key 72 define therebetween a one-way device which permits second actuating lever 68 to be operated independently of first actuating lever 56 so as to empty second compartment 14 without emptying first compartment 12. Because of the one-way mechanism defined by shaft key 70 and sleeve key 72, the operation of first actuating lever 56 carries with it second actuating lever 68 so that 'both first compartment 12 and second compartment 14 are emptied simultaneously through the valve ports normally closed by first and second valves 22 and 26, respectively. First and second actuating levers 56 and 68, respectively, are operated by turning them in the direction of the arrow indicated in FIGURE 5. When shaft 66 is rotated, key 70 does not encounter any fixed projection on sleeve 50, so sleeve 50 remains stationary. When sleeve 50 is rotated, sleeve key 72 encounters shaft key 70 and carries shaft 66 around with it. Water is supplied to closet 10 through a water supply device indicated generally at 32 which includes a fioat 76 mounted in second compartment 14 on float arm 78. Water is supplied to the closet through pipe 80 and its flow into the closet is regulated by supply valve 82. A conduit 84 extends from pipe 80 into first compartment 12. An overflow pipe 86 is positioned in second compartment 14.

The internal arrangement of the components of this invention are such that only a single water level sensingV device is required to accommodate both compartments and only one supply valve is required to supply water to both compartments.

What has been described are preferred embodiments An apparatus comprising: v

partition means adapted to be positioned entirely within a water closet whereby said closet is divided into first and second compartments with an opening between said compartments at about the normally fully water level of said closet, said partition means including wall means defining a single outlet chamber, said chamber being adapted to enclose the outlet of a water closet, first valve means in said wall means adapted to regulate the flow of water from said first compartment into said chamber, second valve means in said wall means adapted to regulate the flow of water from said second compartment into said chamber, means adapted to supply water to said first compartment responsive to the water level in said second compartment, second valve actuating means for opening said second valve means independently of said first valve means, and first valve actuating means for opening said first and second valve means together.

. An apparatus comprising:

wall adapted to extend laterally in a water closet from about the normally full water level downwardly to divide said water closet into lirst and second compartments, wall means at the bottom of said wall, said wall means defining a single outlet chamber adapted to enclose the outlet of a water closet, first valve means in said wall means adapted to regulate the flow o'f Water from said first compartment into said chamber, and second valve means in said wall means at the same level as said first valve means and adapted to regulate the flow of water from said second compartment into said chamber.

3. A water closet comprising: container walls forming first and second compartments and a single outlet chamber, said outlet chamber being within said water closet, first and second valve means at the same level for regulating the flow of water from said first and second compartments, respectively, into said outlet chamber, said vfirst and second valve means being within said water 4. An apparatus comprising: a water closet; a partition dividing said water closet into first and second compartments; an opening between said compartments at about the normally full water level; an outlet from the bottom of said closet; said partition defining a single chamber at the base thereof and closing said outlet; first valve means, normally closed, whereby water is preventedv from passing from said first compartment through said chamber; second valve means, normally closed, whereby water is prevented from passing from said second cornpartment through said chamber; Water level sensing means in said second compartment; water supply means responsive to said sensing means, lwhereby the water level in said closet is normally maintained at a predetermined level; conduit means extending from said supply means to said 'first compartment, whereby water is supplied to said first compartment and flows through said opening into said second compartment; second valve actuating means for opening said second valve means independently of said first valve means, whereby water from said second compartment passes through said chamber and .water remains in said first compartment; and rst valve actuating means for opening said first and second valve means together, whereby water from both compartments passes through said chamber, said rst and second valve actuating means including first and second valve actuating levers positioned outside said water closet, each of said actuating levers including means extending from the exterior to the interior of said water closet through the same opening in a wall of said water closet. 5. The apparatus o f claim 4 including first valve actuating means for opening said first and second valves together, and second valve actuating means for opening said second valve means independently of said first valve means, said second valve actuating means including a shaft and an actuating lever attached to said shaft, said first actuating means including a sleeve and an actuating lever attached to said sleeve, said shaft being journaled in said sleeve.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 360,658 4/1887 Clifford 4-40 1,805,204 5/1931 Brown 4-40 2,731,647- 1/ 1956 Groth et al. V2,754,521 7/ 1956 Marcum 4-57 2,839,759 6/ 1958 Martino 4-37 3,344,439 10/ 1967 Davies 4-40 FOREIGN PATENTS 17,205 8/1903 Great Britain.

LAVERNE D. GEIGER, Primary Examiner H. K. ARTIS, Assistant Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R. 4-52, 57, 67 

